Television or Video Monitors and Cabinets Therefor

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the so-called flat-screen television sets and video monitors and to cabinets therefor. Flat screen television sets and video monitors presently come in two different forms, namely those with a plasma screens on the one hand, and those with LCD screens on the other. In modem home design, in any living room in which a television or video monitor is positioned, the seating is generally angled, so that people can readily view the screen of such. Such an arrangement causes difficulties in that a television set or video monitor is a focus of the room, even when not in use. Other problems exist in that the flat-screen display is not generally considered as an aesthetically pleasing design. Furthermore, having an expensive or moderately expensive item of electrical equipment on permanent display within a room can pose a security risk. The present invention provides an apparatus for use with a flat-screen display, the apparatus comprising: a fireplace surround, adapted to stand against a wall, in the form of a fireplace surround, comprising a mechanism operable to support a flat screen television in first and second positions, wherein the flat-screen display can be viewed above the fireplace surround in an operating position. The fireplace surround provides a natural focal point of the room.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the so-called flat-screen televisionsets and video monitors and to cabinets therefor.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Flat screen television sets and video monitors presently come in twodifferent forms, namely those with a plasma screen on the one hand, andthose with an LCD screen on the other, relying upon differenttechnologies, the details of which are of little importance, so far asthe present invention is concerned.

Broadly speaking, plasma television technology is derived from that ofthe fluorescent tube. The screen is generally divided into individualcells, each comprising an inert gas, usually a neon-xenon mixture,sealed between glass panels. When the gas is electrically charged, thecharged gas molecules strike red, green or blue phosphors. To create atelevision image, comprised of many pixel elements, each group of thethree red, green and blue phosphors forms a pixel element of the screen.In contrast, LCD screens are generally formed of layers of transparentmaterial which are polarised, one layer generally being coated with apolymer that holds individual liquid crystals. Current applied to thecrystals passes or blocks light from a light source behind thetransparent layers to create an image.

However, as noted above, the details of the respective technologies arenot of importance as far as the present invention is concerned. Thereare relative advantages and disadvantages as between plasma screens, andLCD screens. At the date of filing this patent application, it was stillrelatively difficult to manufacture large size “one metre or more inwidth” LCD screens to acceptable quality, so that they are very muchmore expensive in corresponding sized plasma television screens; butcontinuing advances are being made in the development of these and otherforms of flat-screen television and video monitor screens (hereinafterto be referred to as flat-screen displays). The present invention isapplicable to flat-screen displays utilising any technology. So far asthe present invention is concerned, the particular technology employedfor the flat-screen implementation need not be further described.

Generally, these new forms of television screen are relatively thin, ascompared with the conventional cathode ray tube based apparatus; theylend themselves to mounting upon a wall. However, such screens completewith housing and mounting fixtures are typically greater than one metrein overall width. This can pose a problem for those considering thepurchase of a flat-screen display, when considering how to arrange aflat-screen display, as an item of furniture, within their homes. Themounting of a flat-screen display upon the wall of a conventional livingroom will result in the presence of a large grey area being present whenthe display screen is not in use, which said large grey area can easilydominate such a room.

Furthermore, because such flat-screen displays are comparativelyexpensive, it is not uncommon for such flat-screen displays to be themain object of a theft: As is known, electrical goods can be disposed ofat a fraction of their open market value to those who do not wish tohave a receipt for purchase.

A still further problem encountered with flat screen displays is thatthe wiring for connection to loudspeakers, aerials and power for thescreen are either attached singly or within a trunking arrangement to awall or are otherwise hidden from view in an expensive and relativelypermanent arrangement. Such cables therefore look quite unsightly or areexpensively buried, with little choice for rearranging the layout of aroom once the cables have been encased.

As a result, a variety of different kinds of furniture in the form ofchests or cabinets have been designed for concealing flat-screendisplays. For example, the type of cabinet could be a blanket box, whichcould be placed at the foot of a bed. Lifting mechanisms are known,which come in a number of forms, and are used to vertically raise aflat-screen display hidden within the furniture, when required to beviewed. For the remaining time, it can be hidden within the furniture.

In modern home design, in any living room in which a television or videomonitor is positioned, the seating is generally angled so that peoplecan readily view the screen of such a television. When a flat-screenarrangement is hidden from view and is stored within an item offurniture as described above, then the resultant room arrangement mayappear to be strange upon initial view and an observer may question thearrangement of seats in that they would be directed toward a blanketbox. Indeed, there are many similarities with the layout of a room wherea non-movable traditional screen television set is enclosed within acupboard-like enclosure, the focal point being what would not,ordinarily, be the focus of a room.

An alternative solution to the problem discussed above, has been tomount the flat-screen display upon the wall of a dedicated television orvideo room, analogous to an in-house cinema—which is not readilyfeasible in most homes.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to the problemsaddressed above.

The present invention seeks to provide an aesthetically pleasingtelevision or video monitor cabinet and further seeks to provide arelatively secure enclosure for an expensive item of electricalapparatus.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus for use with a flat-screen display, the apparatus comprising:a fireplace surround adapted to stand against a wall, and comprising amechanism which can support a flat screen display in a first positionsuch that the flat-screen display remains entirely within the cabinet,hidden from view, and in a second position such that the flat-screendisplay is raised above the fireplace surround and a flat-screen displaycan be viewed by an onlooker, the mechanism being operable to move aflat-screen display between the first and the second positions.

Conveniently, the fireplace surround comprises a grate or fireplace, ahearth and a mantelshelf; the grate may comprise an electric fireplaceconveniently with a flame effect arrangement, equally, the grate maycomprise a gas fireplace also conveniently with a flame effectarrangement.

Nonetheless, it may be that there is no requirement for an actualheating device to be present: the fireplace surround may indeed comprisea faux-fireplace. For example, the fireplace may look as if it may beused on a regular basis but may, in fact, not be used at all—there is noelectric, gas or other type of heating device. Alternatively, thefireplace surround may comprise a screen, decorated or otherwise, whichis permanently on view to give the impression that there is a fireplace,but such is not used or infrequently used, when there is in fact nograte or fireplace. In another alternative, a flower display, pottedplants or other types of objet d'art may be present, to “hide” anon-existent or little used fireplace. It will be appreciated that thereare many fireplaces, especially in older homes, where the fireplacesurround looks pretty, or even interesting, yet the fireplace or grateis black and unsightly, and may also allow a draught: a screen ordraught excluder may appear to be appropriate and little thought will bedirected to the apparent primary use of the fireplace surround.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of operating a cabinet operable to enclose a flat-screen displaywhen not in use within a cabinet, the cabinet comprising a fireplacesurround adapted to stand against a wall, with a mechanism which cansupport a flat screen display in a first and second positions, themechanism being operable to move the flat-screen display between thefirst and the second positions; fireplace surround provided with afireplace in which a gas fire, electric fire or faux fire is mounted; ina first mode the method comprising the steps of operating the mechanism,such that, if initially the flat-screen display is in view, then themechanism lowers the flat-screen display within the fireplace surroundwhereby to maintain the fireplace as a focal point of a room and, inanother mode, the method comprises the step of raising the flat-screendisplay from within the fireplace surround such that the flat-screendisplay is visible.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided afireplace comprising a flame effect gas or electric fire, a fireplacesurround, a hearth and a mantel and a flat-screen display; at least partof the fireplace surround, conveniently a mantel shelf, beingdisplaceable to allow the display screen, otherwise hidden from view, tobe raised for viewing.

When the flame effect fire is in actual fact a gas fire, then provisioncan be made for the ducting of gases for combustion and exhaust behindthe fire, through a flue that is conveniently fan assisted, such ductingbeing arranged so that it does not affect the mechanism for raising andlowering of the screen.

The raising mechanism may comprise a screw drive or a rack and pinionmechanism, wherein an electric motor provides drive. Alternatively anhydraulic mechanism or a pneumatic system is employed. Part or all ofthe mantel shelf may be raised together with the screen and may beattached to the upper edge of the display screen or to its raisingmechanism for this purpose. Alternatively, part or all of the mantelshelf may be hingedly mounted to the remainder of the cabinet, allowingit to be rotated on operation of the mechanism to a position allowingthe display screen to be raised. In a further alternative, part or allof the mantel shelf may be slid out of the way, or withdrawn within thecabinet, to allow the screen to be raised.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will nowbe made, by way of example only, to the Figures as shown in theaccompanying drawing sheets, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cabinet for a flat-screen television, in aschematic front elevation view;

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view through the cabinet of FIG. 1 takenalong the line II-II in FIG. 1, and showing a flat-screen within thecabinet;

FIG. 3 shows a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the flat-screenraised;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a scrap sectional view showing a modification;

FIG. 6 a similar scrap sectional view showing a further modification;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first example of lifting mechanismuseful in an apparatus as depicted in FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative example of liftingmechanism as seen from the front;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lifting mechanism shown in FIG. 8 asseen from the rear;

FIG. 10 is a view generally similar to FIG. 2 for an alternativeembodiment, and;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of FIG. 10, taken along the line XI-XI.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

There will now be described, by way of example only, the best modecontemplated by the inventor for carrying out the present invention. Inthe following description, numerous specific details are set out inorder to provide a complete understanding to the present invention. Itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the present inventionmay be put into practice with variations of the specific.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, with aflat-screen display 1 is shown mounted within a cabinet 2 in FIGS. 1 and2 and raised from the cabinet in FIGS. 3 and 4 for the screen to beviewed. The display screen 1 is mounted on a mounting and liftingmechanism 3 to allow the screen to be raised and lowered as required,suitably under remote-control of a viewer seated in front of the screen.In order that the screen can be raised, a portion 4 of the top 5 of thecabinet is either raised with the screen and lifting mechanism, as shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, or rotated about a hinge axis 6 out of the way, toallow the screen to be raised, as shown in the alternative scrap view ofthe FIG. 5. In a further alternative arrangement, part or all of the top5 of the cabinet may be slideable, for example, to the dotted lineposition shown in the scrap view of FIG. 6, to allow the liftingmechanism to raise the screen. Part or all of the top 5 may also simplybe withdrawn into the cabinet. In these alternative arrangements, thedisplay support part of top 5 may be moved by hand, by engagement withthe lifting mechanism or by mechanical or electromechanical meansspecific to top 5, as would be apparent to one skilled.

A number of different mounting and lifting mechanisms are commerciallyavailable, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, and described inmore detailed below. Wiring for the screen may be hidden within thecabinet. The cabinet is suitably disposed against a wall (not shown inFigures), and the lifting mechanism 3 is mounted to the cabinet, to thefloor, and/or to the wall. It will be appreciated that if connected tothe wall, there may be beneficial security implications with regard totheft of the lifting apparatus and flat-screen display.

Thus far, the apparatus described above is entirely conventional. Whatdiffers in the illustrated embodiment is the form of the cabinet 2.Here, rather than being provided in the form of furniture such as achest, it takes the form of a fireplace surround 7 which surrounds afireplace or grate 8, providing a space for a fire and a hearth 9, whichextends forwardly of the fireplace surround. The top 5 of the fireplacesurround serves as a mantel shelf or mantel piece. Within the fire space8 is mounted an electric flame effect fire 10. As can be seen from thesectional view of FIG. 2, the screen 1 and lifting mechanism are locatedbehind the fire 10 and fire space 8. For clarity and ease ofillustration, the respective wiring for the television 1, the liftingmechanism and for the flame effect fire 10 have been omitted from theabove drawings. It will be understood, however, that such wiring canreadily be hidden within the cabinet. It will also be appreciated thatperipheral electrical equipment such as DVD players “home-cinema”equipment, antenna signal boost equipment, the so-called “digi-boxes”and other equipment can conveniently be placed inside the fireplacesurround or within an aperture or orifice defined within the fireplacesurround, suitably placed behind a cover or door, if required. Thefireplace surround can conveniently be formed from a wide range ofmaterials, with due regard to considerations such as combustibility,taking into account whether or not and what type of fire is to beemployed.

Conveniently, the fireplace surround comprises a grate, a hearth and amantel shelf, the grate may comprise an electric or gas fireplaceconveniently with a flame effect arrangement. There may, indeed, be norequirement for an actual heater or fire to be present and the fireplacemay comprise a faux-fireplace. In other words the fireplace may look asif it is used on a regular basis but in fact does not comprise a chimneyor fire or heating device. Alternatively, the fireplace comprises ascreen, which can be decorated, which is permanently on view to give theimpression that there is a fire that is not used or infrequently used,when there is in fact no grate or fireplace. Furthermore this effectmimics those fireplaces, especially in older homes, where the fire hasbeen blocked off but the fireplace surround looks pretty, or eveninteresting, yet the fireplace or grate is black and unsightly, and mayalso allow a draught: a screen or draught excluder may appear to beappropriate. Equally, Flowers, pot plants or objets d'art may be placedinstead of a screen.

Cabinet 2 may be fashioned in any appropriate fireplace style, such as,but not restricted to, mediaeval stonework, wooden Adam-style, Victoriantile, Art Deco, metalwork, modern polished stone or glass. Stone,plaster (moulded or otherwise), wood, medium density fibreboard,plastics, fibreglass are examples (but not an exhaustive list)ofsuitable materials from which the fireplace surround can be formed.

FIG. 7 shows a typical lifting mechanism. A lift platform 11, generallyof box girder form, is supported from respective side panels 12, 13. Amotor, not illustrated in FIG. 7, is mounted within the box girderplatform 11 and drives a pair of inter-meshed spur gears 14 at eitherlongitudinal end of the platform 11, The side panels 12, 13, aregenerally C-shaped in profile, and each support a pair of longitudinaltack gears 15 along their inwardly directed edges, the racks facing eachother and co-operate with spur gears 14. Depending on which directionthe motor is driven, the above described rack-and-pinion arrangementwould serve to raise or lower the platform as a whole. Top and bottomlimits of travel are determined by adjustably positionable abutmentstops which engage a limit switch 18 mounted on the rear of the platform11. Power to the lifting mechanism is provided electric power cable 19and a control box 20, which may be mounted so that switches 21 aremanually accessible through the side of the cabinet 2. Alternatively,control box 20 may be coupled to a radio or ultrasonic sensorcontrollable by a corresponding remote-controller operated by a viewerof the display screen seated in front of the cabinet. INCA of Gardena,Calif., USA, Wihelm GmbH of Steinbach-Hallenberg, Germany and Lift-Techof Valencia, Calif., USA provide known lifting mechanisms.

The INCA system employs a motor that is housed within the platform thatis raised and lowered. The Wilhelm arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 8and 9 provides an alternative arrangement in which a motor 22 is mountedwithin a housing 23 at the base of the lifting mechanism. The Wilhelmlifting mechanism also incorporates a back panel 24 and side panels 25,26, which, together with the housing 23, are fixedly mounted within thefireplace surround. A movable structure, generally indicated 27 andshown in dotted line in its upper position and in solid line in lowerposition in FIG. 8, is movable in a generally vertical direction,relative to the above described fixed structure to raise and lower anyflat-screen display unit. Movable structure 27 comprises a pair ofuprights 28, 29 from which are mounted two generally horizontal supports30, (omitted from view in FIG. 9) adapted to support the rear of aflat-screen display, and two forwardly extending struts 31 adapted tosupport the lower edge of a flat screen display or shelf support. Asbest seen in the rear view of FIG. 9, the uprights 28, 29 are coupledtogether at their lower ends by a carriage 32, the coupling between thecarriage 32 and the respective upright, passing through longitudinallyextending slots 25 a (not shown), and 26 a in the respective side panels25, 26. Carriage 32 mounts a captive nut 33 that co-operates with avertically extending screw shaft 34 mounted in bearings in the lowerportion of housing 23 and top 35 of the panel 24. Screw shaft 34,rotated by motor 22, causes captive nut 33 to move parallel with theaxis of the shaft, dependent upon the direction of rotation, taking thecarriage 32 and the remainder of the movable structure 27 with it. Ascan be seen from the FIG. 9, a rod 36 also connects housing 23 and top35 of the panel 24, passing through a wide aperture 37 in carriage 32.Rod 36 mounts one or more stops such as fingers or collets, such ascollet 38, adapted to trip a limit switch 39 and connected to a controlcircuit for motor 22 so as to set maximum and minimum limits of travel.

It will be appreciated that other forms of lifting mechanisms canreadily be employed in place of the electromechanical arrangementdescribed above. For example, an hydraulic or a pneumatic systememploying piston and cylinder arrangements at opposite ends of alongitudinal horizontal platform could be employed.

In the above described embodiments of the apparatus, the fire is shownas a flame effect electric fire. However, as an alternative, manyexisting models of flame effect gas fire can be employed in theapparatus according to the present invention. It will be appreciatedthat with a typical gas fire the heat produced is largely convected orradiated forwardly. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a flame effect gas fire40, is mounted within the fire space 8 in place of the flame effectelectric fire 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A gas supply pipe 41 is coupledto a suitable source of mains supply gas or to bottled gas. Exhaustcombustion fumes from fire 40 are drawn through ducting 42 to afan-powered flue—with an alternative flue 43 shown in dottedlines—although the fan arrangement is not shown. As shown, ducting 42passes to one side of lifting mechanism 3 below the flat-screen display1. Where an auxiliary air supply is required either to augment airwithin the room or in the case of a flame effect gas fire sealed fromthe room air, additional air ducting (not shown) is provided to draw inart from outside the building. Gas fire 40 is designed to have a limiteddepth, so that the rear of the fire, which is suitably insulated by afireproof barrier 45 for additional protection, is appropriately spacedapart from the flat-screen display 1, as shown in FIG. 10. With thefireplace surround 7 mounted against an external wall, the various pipesand ducts or auxiliary air supply associated with fire 40 may readily beaccommodated within the mantel cabinet.

Part or all of the mantel shelf may be raised together with the screenand may be attached to the upper edge of the display screen or to itsraising mechanism for this purpose. Alternatively, part or all of themantel shelf may be hingedly mounted to the remainder of the cabinet,allowing it to be rotated on operation of the mechanism to a positionallowing the display screen to be raised. In a further alternative, partor all of the mantel shelf may be slid out of the way, or withdrawnwithin the cabinet, to allow the screen to be raised.

With any of the above lifting mechanisms housed within a fireplacesurround of the kind described above, a seating arrangement within aroom in which the fireplace surround is located is angled towards thefireplace as a natural focus of the room. The seating arrangement willappear to be natural without regard to the particular function of theroom.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. An apparatus for use with a flat-screen display,the apparatus comprising: a fireplace surround adapted to stand againsta wall and comprising a mechanism which can support a flat screendisplay in a first position such that the flat-screen display remainsentirely within the fireplace surround, hidden from view, and in asecond position such that the flat-screen display is raised above thefireplace surround and the flat-screen display into an operatingposition, the mechanism being operable to move the flat-screen displaybetween the first and the second positions.
 14. An apparatus accordingto claim 13, wherein the fireplace surround comprises a fireplace, ahearth and a mantel shelf.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 13,wherein the fireplace surround comprises a fireplace, a hearth and amantel shelf and wherein the fireplace comprises an electric fireplaceor a gas fireplace.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein thefireplace surround comprises a fireplace, a hearth and a mantel shelfand wherein the fireplace comprises an electric fireplace or a gasfireplace which fireplace can provide a flame effect arrangement.
 17. Anapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the fireplace surroundcomprises a faux fireplace, having a screen or other type of decorationin place of a grate.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein amantel shelf is displaceable to allow the display screen, otherwisehidden from view within the fireplace surround, to be raised forviewing.
 19. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a mantel shelfis displaceable to allow the display screen, otherwise hidden from viewwithin the fireplace surround, to be raised for viewing, wherein part orall of the mantel shelf is arranged to be raised together with thescreen and is attached to the upper edge of the display screen for thispurpose.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a mantel shelfis displaceable to allow the display screen, otherwise hidden from viewwithin the fireplace surround, to be raised for viewing, wherein part orall of the mantel shelf is arranged be raised together with the screenand is attached to its raising mechanism for this purpose.
 21. Anapparatus according to claim 13, wherein a mantel shelf is displaceableto allow the display screen, otherwise hidden from view within thefireplace surround, to be raised for viewing, wherein part or all of themantel shelf is hingedly mounted to the remainder of the fireplacesurround, allowing it to be rotated on operation of the mechanism to aposition allowing the display screen to be raised.
 22. An apparatusaccording to claim 13, wherein a mantel shelf is displaceable to allowthe display screen, otherwise hidden from view within the fireplacesurround, to be raised for viewing, wherein part or all of the mantelshelf can be slid out of the way, or withdrawn within the fireplacesurround, to allow the screen to be raised.
 23. An apparatus accordingto claim 13, wherein the fireplace surround comprises a fireplace, ahearth and a mantel shelf and wherein the fireplace comprises a gasfireplace and there is provided a ducting arrangement to enable theducting of gases for combustion and exhaust behind the fireplacesurround, through a flue, such ducting being arranged so that it doesnot affect the mechanism for raising and lowering of the screen.
 24. Anapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the raising mechanism comprisesone of a screw drive, a rack and pinion mechanism, an hydraulicmechanism or a pneumatic mechanism.
 25. A method of operating a cabinetoperable to enclose a fiat-screen display when not in use within acabinet, the cabinet comprising a fireplace surround
 24. An apparatusaccording to claim 13, wherein the raising mechanism comprises one of ascrew drive, a rack and pinion mechanism, an hydraulic mechanism or apneumatic mechanism.
 25. A method of operating a cabinet operable toenclose a flat-screen display when not in use within a cabinet, thecabinet comprising a fireplace surround adapted to stand against a wall,with a mechanism which can support a flat screen display in a first andsecond positions, the mechanism being operable to move the flat-screendisplay between the first and the second positions; fireplace surroundprovided with a fireplace in which a gas fire, electric fire or fauxfire is mounted; in a first mode the method comprising the steps ofoperating the mechanism, such that, if initially the flat-screen displayis in view, then the mechanism lowers the flat-screen display within thefireplace surround whereby to maintain the fireplace as a focal point ofa room; and, in another mode, the method comprises the step of raisingthe flat-screen display from within the fireplace surround such that theflat-screen display is in an operating position.